Comment
Strategic Growth Options
Representation ID: 5571
Received: 20/02/2015
Respondent: Essex County Council
ECC, as highway authority, will need to be satisfied with the approach to highway modelling and the necessary mitigation required on the overall network and key junctions before support can be given to any future strategy and strategic development sites. Any modelling work should assist in identifying particular areas within Brentwood urban area which experience unacceptable periods of congestion and key pinch points (eg Wilsons Corner, Brentwood). It is noted that some 2500 dwellings are likely to be provided in urban areas and it will be necessary to ascertain the potential cumulative impact of these sites on the network.
The highways modelling should also have regard to a number of other national, sub—regional and local highway infrastructure projects and investment commitments within and surrounding the borough including:
* A12 M25 to Chelmsford (D17) - raising section from M25 to Chelmsford to 3 lanes to help address congestion problems and inconsistent standards in the next road period (next 5 years)
* M25 Junction 28 improvement (E12) - upgrading the interchange with the A12 to provide dedicated left turn slip lanes and improvement of gyratory system - Late Road Period (2021).
* Lower Thames Crossing
* A127 Corridor for Growth as outlined in the "A127 corridor for Growth - an Economic Plan "local roads" such as the A128.
As part of any highway modelling it will be necessary to involve the Highways Agency given the proximity to the A12 and M25, and to ensure their support for any underlying parameters to modelling, and their views of the impact of strategic sites on their network.
see attached